Best Tablets for Multitaskers, Butterfingers, and Technophobes

There’s always one toy guaranteed to be on every guy’s holiday wish list—MacBooks, DSLR’s, whatever. This year, Santa’s bag is bursting with tablets. But choosing which pad to ask for (or buy for yourself and hide under the tree) is a big task—especially when ppi and core processors don’t matter as much to you as a tablet that is durable enough for your kids to borrow, or featuring a screen big enough to read without glasses, or at a price lower than your monthly rent. We’ve got you covered. Here are the perfect tablets for a wide range of dude-types.

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For the chronic klutz: Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1

If your previous gadgets have all succumbed to the unavoidable crash or splash, the Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 should be your next—and last—purchase. Touting both a 1920x1200 resolution, 10-inch screen, and an IP65-certified sealed all-weather design, this tablet will display Windows 8 flawlessly—even after a “surprise” rainstorm or faulty game of “Hey, toss me that tablet! Ouch!” The glass face is even rated to protect the screen for up to a 4-foot drop. And while your clumsiness comes with a hefty price tag, add the cost of all the electronics that have slipped through your fingers before, and tell us if this durable device really isn’t worth it for you. ($2,160, Panasonic.com)

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For the technophobe: Kindle Fire HDX

Just because you don’t know the difference between RAM and ROM doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a tablet with top-notch performance and beautiful display. At 13.2 ounces, the Kindle Fire HDX is ridiculously light with a shockingly beautiful HDX display on both the 7- and 8.9-inch screen. You can watch TV shows and movies from Prime Instant Video, even offline, for up to 11 hours without charging. And if you can’t figure out how to do, well, anything, an Amazon rep is just a Mayday button away to video chat and share your screen until you’ve worked through it. Bonus: Amazon’s new customizable Kindle covers make great stocking stuffers. ($380, amazon.com)

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For the over-caffeinated multitasker: HP Pavilion11 x2

Hybrids saved you from having to buy either a portable tablet or a practical laptop, and now the HP Pavilion11 x2 will save you from having to ever tear your eyes off a screen. Weighing in at 3.5 pounds with the keyboard, the 11 x2 is lighter than most laptops but equipped with a comparable 11.6-inch screen. And with a unique dual-magnetic lock mechanism that connects the screen to the keyboard, it’s the perfect size and design to keep with you at all times, whether you’re watching movies or working on the Windows 8 platform. If the optional built-in 500GB hard drive space isn’t enough, plug in a USB, HDMI, and a full-size SD card slot on the keyboard base, in addition to the microSD slot on the bottom of the tablet. And with dual batteries—one in the tablet and another in the keyboard—the tablet will likely outlast your caffeine buzz, no matter how many cups you order. ($600, hp.com)

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For the cheap bastard: ASUS’ MeMO Pad

If you’re dumbfounded that people spend two extra dollars to buy Cheerios over generic-O’s, then the ASUS’ MeMO Pad is your tablet. This affordable gadget has (most of) the perks of any entry-level pad but without the price tag. The 7-inch display runs on an Android platform, so you have access to the same apps and store as the Nexus 7 (albeit at a slower pace than Google’s gadget). The 1024x600 resolution isn’t HD, but its 169 ppi—the same as the original Kindle Fire launched two years ago—is still clean and a steal for the price. We know—even $150 is still a significant chunk of change to drop. And while you can score a tablet, like the Ematic Genesis Prime, for under $100, even the most undemanding dude will be disappointed by the low resolution and slow performance of anything cheaper than the MeMO Pad. ($150, asus.com)

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For the visionary artiste: Apple iPad Air

Apple’s latest iPad has a host of improvements that make it generally better than its predecessor: a powerful new A7 chip, ultra-fast wireless, and a svelte, 20 percent thinner profile that also drops its weight to an even 1 pound. But what we really love about this device is how well it works with the also-newly-upgraded media apps from Apple. The newest iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, and Keynote, all run blindingly fast thanks to the Air’s desktop-class processor. Because of this you’ll be able to create and edit on the fly and switch effortlessly between apps as your mood and creative energy change with millisecond timing and based loosely on whatever direction the wind is blowing. (From $499, apple.com)

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For the Instagram addict: Nokia Lumia 2520

If your phone’s entire memory bank is filled with photos, listen up: The Nokia Lumia 2520 boasts not only a crisp 6.7MP camera and gorgeous HD screen, but also a new feature made just for photo junkies. The Nokia Storyteller automatically sorts all your photos and videos into interactive groups called stories. In your timeline, you can browse and modify all these stories, then view them as slideshows or share them with friends. You can also sort your photos and videos by location, as well as add captions to tell even more of the story. It organizes your photos in the way you intended when snapping them: to act as a visual storyboard for all your favorite moments captured. ($500, nokia.com)

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For the helicopter parent: Google Nexus 7

They may have won the battle to score a smartphone before high school, but their own tablet? Before you say “Dream on,” consider the potential white flag of the Nexus 7. Allowing up to 10 user profiles—all with optional parental restrictions—the Nexus 7 is the perfect communal tablet. A 10-hour battery and built-in wireless charging means the fun isn’t over just because someone lost the charger. The Google tablet automatically syncs with each user’s Android device, so no one is without their favorite apps and settings. And while the kids will no doubt fight the injustice of having to share, the 1920x1200 HD display on the 7-inch screen will no doubt soothe their anger when it’s their turn to use it. ($230, google.com)

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